What is this?

Watch above: It’s the largest evacuation in the province’s history and the wildfires have left many displaced residents separated from family and friends. Joel Senick finds out how evacuees are reconnecting and who’s helping to achieve that.

SASKATOON – Saskatchewan wildfire evacuee Michael Thackeray, from Montreal Lake, spends part of his day online. He’s checking back home and communicating with family, seeing and hoping to go home soon.

For Thackeray and others, the issue goes beyond a Wi-Fi signal; he doesn’t own a cell phone and doesn’t want to be a hassle either.

“People have their own phones and doing their own communicating with their own families … Try not to bother them,” said Thackeray.

This makes social media websites all the more important to reach family members and bring peace of mind hundreds of miles from home. One less thing to worry about, in a situation that could produce many more.